Just caught up with the latest show and was surprised to see Len dishing out lots of 4's and 5's and generally being quite critical (whilst the other judges gave out 10s and rarely scored below a 6).

But I welcomed it and wish he could be more like this on Strictly.

It did make me question just how genuine some of the judges are being though and how authentic their scores are.

Len has clearly been told to play the Mr Grumpy role in the US version (they refer to him as such) and yet he plays the opposite role here. And this is reflected in the scores.

But which is the real Len?

I feel like we're being manipulated a bit.

Totally agree, Len is the grumpy judge on DWTS.

If he honestly thinks the stars on the UK version are better then the US ones then I think the jet lag is affecting him.

I'd like to see what Craig thinks of the US stars.

Yes, that would be interesting.

I'm no expert, but if I'm honest, I think the standard is generally higher over there. Some of the Rhumbas, in particular, this week were very impressive.

I do believe that the performances Len was awarding 4's and 5's to would have been getting 6's and 7's on Strictly.

One of the problems that DWTS faces is that the panel only comprises 3 judges. And this results in a lot of the couples being tied on the leaderboard. Maybe Len has been asked to mark more harshly to help separate the couples.

It's that Brits* typecast as baddies in Hollywood thing.

* I mean British people of course...apologies for any offence.

I agree, his scores are really harsh on DWTS... he would love Mya in the UK. Am mystified to his response to her dances. She is really brilliant compared to some of the highly rated UK stars.. Wierd.

I'm not sure if him being grumpy is just about Len 'playing a role' or rather that he is just grumpy at the dance travesty he has to witness on DWTS. I think he gave Maya, a very good dancer a 5 for her VW, which contained only 3 bars in hold.

That is something that Len is a stickler for, even if it it is American Smooth style ballroom that he is judging.

I think that that's something that a lot of the Americans who call him fuddy duddy or old fashioned should think about.

Soon there'll be no standards at all on that show.

And audience figures seem to be falling, good luck to them. Keep up the good work Len.

I think Len's quite similar over there actually - he likes traditional basic choreography, the standard ten ballroom and Latin dances, British/European style over American and he has a loathing of gimmicks.

It's just the show's so different over there- with it's muppet dances and unicycles and 176 different dance styles and complete disregard for proper hold or technique- so that he slots in differently.

Given Craig's preferences, I wouldn't be surprised if he judged higher than Len over there to be honest.

Hi Sid, good post. I haven't seen DWTS and from what I've read in your post maybe I shouldn't.

Answer: It's TV we're ALWAYS being manipulated. Or is that being too cynical?

The sad thing that now that you know it's all an act you'll no longer see him in the same light. A shame.

Hey Dave

I reckon I'm a bit naive sometimes!

You're right, a lot of what happens must be pre-determined to suit the agenda of the show.

The whole feel of DWTS is very different by the way. But don't worry, I still think our version is classier so you're not missing out!

Totally agree. Despite him giving lower marks, he actually seems a bit happier on DWTS than he does on SCD. He seems to get on well with the excellent Tom Bergeron.

However, a VW with 3 bars in hold is terrible -even for DWTS -I knew as soon as I had seen that dance that he wouldnt be impressed.

I prefer Len on DWS as well.

Len to Bruno>"...you need a checkup from the neck up!"

Have you noticed him re-using a lot of his lines?

He joked that Tuffers had gone from magic to tragic and said the same thing to someone on DWTS!

Yes I have "...only a mother/father could love that dance"

His critques to Rav and Aaron Carter were pretty much exactly the same : "first dance, first {something}, and I wish I could say first class...but I can't".

I don't think the standard is higher. I think it's pretty even.

And those Rumbas you saw -- not supposed to be Rumbas. They were supposed to be Boleros but nobody really included the Bolero steps.

How did he - and they - get on with the Texas 2-step?

I don't believe the standard is higher on DWTS, no way is it. A comparison can barely be made between our very structured dances any their twirling around the place.

Add to that they always seem to include a higher proprtion of celebs with a dance background.

Their dances are shorter than ours.

Our pros actually teach technique whereas theirs teach routines, there is absolutely no way that any of that lot could take to the dance floor after the comp and perform any of those ballroom dances.

Exactly. One of the dancers they have on this year was a backup dancer in Chicago!

They were all pretty horrendous. I loved the Charlestons though.

Oooh I think I'm an episode behind!

I haven't seen the one where they perform Boleros and the Charleston.

agree with all the reasons why their standard isn't higher at all just different shows/style

As for Len he is the same of both show - looking at technique not show which is why he appears harder on DWTS.

As for Mya's Rumba it could have been that Len gave a 7 because it was in terms of technique worthy of a 7 or because he knows as Bruno and Carrie-Anne go so over the top with their markings that he needed to make the average fair - 27 points = 3 nines

And Sid you are not a show behind you are watching in UK pace not youtube pace the show was only shown last night in the States with the 2 step

Not sure I'm keen on all these random new dances being introduced.

By the way, I agreed entirely with Len's assessment of Mya's VW.

I just noticed that all his marks have been quite reserved. As you say, that might be because the couples on DWTS put more emphasis on the 'razzle dazzle' of a routine than technique.

I agree with what you guys are saying.

I think a lot of the American public don't understand proper ballroom technique and think Len is just being mean and so they boo him. To me Len is the voice of reason on DWTS sitting between Carrie Ann and Bruno. It is similar to Craig on SCD in that if Len gives a 10 the couple usually has earned it by demonstrating technique.

I agreed with Len as well they were out of hold for most of the dance.

I'm not so keen on the random new dances either every season they is a new one can't wait to see Len's face if they ever introduce Lyrical and hip hop